Health scheme coverage crosses two crore; CM hands over kit to milestone beneficiary

Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM) health scheme reaches two crore people, providing home-based healthcare services for hypertension and diabetes.

With the State government’s flagship health scheme, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM), crossing a coverage of two crore persons, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday called on a milestone beneficiary at her residence, and handed over a medical kit containing tablets for two months.

Accompanied by Minister for Housing and Urban Development S. Muthusamy and Minister for Health Ma. Subramanian, Mr. Stalin, while on his way to Erode from Coimbatore, met A. Sundarambal, 55, at Nanjanapuram village near Thindal. Later, he met one Vasantha, 60, in the same village and enquired with her about the physiotherapy treatment she had been receiving under the scheme.

Ms. Vasantha told the Chief Minister that she experienced tremors in the hand, and felt better after the treatment. Mr. Stalin encouraged her to continue the physiotherapy sessions. Later, he left for Erode for a two-day visit.

The scheme provides comprehensive home-based healthcare services for hypertension and diabetes across the State. Launched by Mr. Stalin in Krishnagiri district on August 5, 2021, it benefits people aged over 45. Physiotherapy treatment is also provided to patients.

The scheme covers 385 rural blocks with 8,713 health sub-centres, and 21 corporations with 460 urban primary health centres in the State.Rajya Sabha member Anthiyur P. Selvaraj, Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, Joint Director of Health Services Kavitha, and Deputy Director of Health Services Aruna, among others, were present.

“No other scheme like the MTM is being implemented across the world. Hence, the UN Inter-Agency Task Force award for 2024 was conferred upon the State’s Health Department...,” Mr. Subramanian said in Erode.

Addressing mediapersons, the Minister said that the MTM had benefited two crore people in the State, and beneficiaries availed themselves of its services repeatedly. More than one crore people with high blood pressure, 49.45 lakh with diabetes and 44.28 lakh with both high blood pressure and diabetes received medicines under the scheme.